Minolta AF 28-135mm F4-4.5 A-mount lens review by Mr_Canuck
 Mr_Canuck#5379 date: May-13-2009 | |
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| sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 3 overall: 4.3 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony 16-105 Sigma 17-70 Min 135/2.8 Min 100/2 Min 50/1.7 Min 35/2 |
| price paid: | missing |
| positive: | Range at long end. Sharpness, colour. Smooth Minolta look of images. Quick focussing. Price. |
| negative: | Min focus distance. Flare. |
| comment: | This is a nice alternative to newer lenses, including more expensive ones. It stands up quite well against my Minolta primes at similar apertures on apsc. On full-frame, it gets challenged and the corners start to reveal some softness. (Sharpness is 4 on FF, and 4.5 on apsc). I've had two copies and used it on apsc and full-frame. Nice bokeh at long end. The autofocus is really quick on a700 and a850. The best general purpose range for full-frame out there. It really has a nice, natural, smooth look to the images, but you do need to manage how you shoot it. It is very prone to flare, and needs to be carefully managed when shooting towards the sun, unless you want flare look, then you've got your baby. The minimum focus distance is long, so it's better suited to outdoor shooting; and it has an interesting macro mode if you need it in a pinch. It is a bit loud as it snaps into focus, which might be an issue at an event where noise was a concern; but no more obtrusive than an SLR shutter snap. It is also a heavy lens and I do feel the weight of it over time – I think particularly because it is front heavy. I don't know why Sony doesn't pick up this formula and modernize it. They'd kill in the full-frame arena. |
; 14MPrating summary
- total reviews: 202
- sharpness: 4.62
- color: 4.83
- build: 4.80
- distortion: 4.42
- flare control: 3.44
- overall: 4.42